Gabriel Woolf

Gabriel Woolf is one of the country’s most distinguished readers and actors. He has presented literary programmes across the English-speaking world, including major tours of the USA, and has performed in Britain for every major arts festival. He has edited and read over forty novels on the radio.

With his annual visits to Chichester Literary Society, members have been fortunate to enjoy many of these and other literary portraits.

In 2012 Gabriel and Linda Hart performed ‘The English Years of Robert Frost’ for the Beaconsfield Society and the Autumn in Malvern festival. The following year they delighted the society with readings from ’84 Charing Cross Road.’

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One they performed ‘Behind the Lines’, a programme of prose and poetry in St George’s Church, reading some of the less well-known works as well as the familiar poems of the war poets such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon.

Gabriel was president of the Alliance of Literary Societies for more than a decade, and also president of the International Dickens fellowship and the Arthur Ransome Society

Upcoming Events

Elizabeth Cassie: The Language of Love on 06 Sep 2017 14:00

John Clegg: My Life as an Actor on 04 Oct 2017 14:00

AGM and Talk Nigel Gossop: A Dog, a Butler and a Caravan on 01 Nov 2017 14:00

Testimonials

'As one who regularly attend the Society's events, I can happily say how much I appreciate meeting like-minded enthusiasts of literature. I delight in the range of monthly events organised by our Committee, whether they are learned or light-hearted talks, visits or one of our lively social gatherings. Visiting speakers never fail to impress us on subjects as diverse as Blake and Byron, to Dodie Smith and Noel Streatfeild. I often return home from meetings fired with enthusiasm for a new subject or a forgotten author, keen to read more widely. It has struck me, too, that there is a wealth of knowledge and experience across the membership, which is shared and enjoyed by everyone.

The Society's aim is to promote and organise literary and associated events for the benefit of every member. It certainly achieves that, and more. Since joining in 2004, I have widened MY literary horizons and many members have become firm friends. Long may the Society continue!

Why then do I enjoy being a member of the Chichester Literary Society? For a start, because my wife Barbara, who really is well-read and loves literature, invited me to accompany her to a meeting, and I sort of stayed on. Society members are all such nice people and the monthly meetings and social activities ensure that time never drags. Nobody has yet twigged that I am a bit of a literary fraud and I hope nobody finds me out! I would urge all non-member spouses, partners etc to come and join us. You will not regret it.'